Title: AC2-Pew Public Education Fund

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve the Mary and Robert Pew Fund Education Grant to support professional development and a planning process to infuse high-quality curriculum and instructional practices in early childhood development in prekindergarten through third grade in Palm Beach County Public schools at selected elementary schools, effective May 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all related documents and contracts.

Description:

A grant has been awarded to the School District of Palm Beach County for one year in the amount of $263,080 to support a partnership between the District and Palm Beach Community College Institute of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

The primary purpose of this grant is to support professional development and a planning process to infuse high-quality curriculum and instructional practices in early childhood development in prekindergarten through third grade in the public schools.  This grant is for the period of May 1, 2006 though April 30, 2007 and has three major components:

1.  Curriculum training for Summer VPK teachers and administrators.  Summer VPK elementary school sites include:  Berkshire, Calusa, C.O. Taylor/Kirklane, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Diamond View, Equestrian Trails, Forest Park, Galaxy, Golden Grove, Grove Park, Highland, Jupiter, Lantana, Melaleuca, Northmore, Pahokee, Pine Grove, Pioneer Park, Royal Palm Beach, Seminole Trails, Starlight Cove, U.B. Kinsey, Verde, Waters Edge, West Riviera, and Wynnebrook.

2.  Creation and implementation of an immersion training model of a 45-hour High/Scope curriculum class to be offered by Palm Beach Community College to CDA level teachers in the VPK program, which is to be accompanied by coaching at the work site to ensure transfer of learning.  Current school-based sites include: Belle Glade, Galaxy, Heritage, Highland, K.E. Cunningham, Lincoln, Palmetto, Pine Grove, Rolling Green, Roosevelt, Rosenwald, Starlight Cove, U.B. Kinsey, Westward, and Wynnebrook elementary schools. Immersion training will occur in the school-based 2006-07 school-year VPK program.  VPK school sites have not yet been identified for the 2006-07 school year.

3.  Mapping of a plan to integrate and align the prekindergarten program to the K-3 program in elementary schools.  Participating school sites will be identified during the strategic planning process, to be completed no later than April 30, 2007.

The funds will be used for the:
- Hiring of a program manager and curriculum coordinator consultants
- Hiring of a consultant to perform an audit of current training and personnel practices related to teachers
- Development of a strategic plan to integrate and align prekindergarten program to the K-3 program
- Creation and implementation of immersion course supported by coaching at the work site

The method/criteria for evaluating implementation and outcomes are:
- SRUSS for Summer VPK
- Pre and post Program Quality Assessment (PQA) in VPK classrooms in the school-year school-based program following the immersion training model

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the Special Revenue-Other Funds Budget is an increase of up to $263,080.  These funds will be allocated to the Department of Early Childhood Education for the creation and implementation of high quality curriculum and instructional practices related to early childhood education.  There is no financial impact to the Operating Budget.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets (akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

E. Wayne Gent

M.J. Steele

Attachments (list):
SRUSS ESI K Data.pdf
Pew Grant Checklist.pdf
Pew Fund Agreement.pdf
Q&AAC2.doc